Extensible utility shelf



A. H. GERHARDT EXTENSIBLE UTILITY SHELF March 30, 1937.

Filed March 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "HIIHH "IHIHM "will l "'mHH IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII MHH March 30, 1937.

A. H. GERHARDT EXTENSIBLE UTILITY SHELF Filed March 14, 1.936

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 L1 Z5 26 2a 27 H w W" I M l JIM "HHHH I J9 I I A ll" IIIH "'HHH i 1 1'' r "IIIIHIH IIHH HI mi 4 r In 2 14 Z 1 4! |||H| I I ('1 w "Hm!!! l H I 3| "M g "MM i .29 yl H) H (w n-1H HWA- M 30 J5 ,5 215 2/8917} Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE EXTENSIBLE UTILITY SHELF Andrew H. Gerhardt, Chicago, Ill., asslgnor to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chi- I cago, 11]., a corporation ofIllino Application March 14, 1936, Serial No. 68,848

13 Claims.

supported in such a manner as to effectively prevent binding thereof in its sliding movements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a utility shelf of the character set forth, in the form of a grate in which the bars or slats forming the grate are bound together in such a manner as to prevent rattling thereof.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a'horizontal sectional view through the top of a supporting structure, such as a table, illustrating my improved utility shelf structure in connection therewith, the shelf being shown as housed in said table top.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, said view being broken to accommodate the same to the sheet of the drawing.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the shelf in extended position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view, looking from right to left in Fig. 4, with the extensible shelf omitted, said view being on a reduced scale.

- and in Fig. 5 part of the base of a pedestal or head which supports the ironer roll and cooperating shoe is shown, said pedestal or head being indicated by 12. As shown, the table I0 is formed of heavy sheet metal and the top thereof is of hollow construction, having a top wall I3, spaced side walls 14-14, and transverse end walls, only one of which is shown, the same being indicated by 15. The spaced side walls 14-14 have laterally inturned bottom flanges l l4-l 14. The table top is open at the bottom, as indicated at IS. The end wall I5 is provided with a plurality of horizontally disposed openings or slots l1-l1, which are arranged in series and are spaced, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. At opposite sides, adjacent to the ends of the end wall l5, are provided vertical slots I 8-1 8.

My improved extensible shelf, which is indicated by A, is normally housed within the table top and is slidable outwardly for use. In Figs. 3

and 4, the utility shelf A is shown in fully extended position. This shelf is in the form of a grate, formed .by horizontally disposed, spaced, flat metal slats l9-l9 mounted in a frame 20. The frame 20 is of substantially rectangular outline and comprises transverse front and rear sections 2| and 22 and side sections 23-23 connecting said front and rear sections. The frame 20 is composed of two bars, which are of rectangular cross section. One of said bars forms the front section 2| and the side sections 23-23 of the frame, and the other bar forms the rear section 22 thereof. The bar forming the front section is bent to provide the side sections 23-23, which are disposed at substantially right angles to said front section 2 I. The side sections 23-23 extend rearwardly beyond the main portion of the rear section 22, as indicated at 24-24, said extensions 24-24 being fixed to rearward extensions 25-25 on the section 22. The extensions 25-25 are portions of the same bar which forms the section 22, the opposite end portions of said bar 30 being bent rearwardly at right angles to form said extensions 25-25. Fig. 4, the bar forming the section 22 of the frame 20 is elevated with respect to the front section 2 I and the side sections 23-23 of said frame 20, and. said extensions 24-24 are oifset upwardly with respect to the side sections 23-23 into alignment with the extensions 25-25 of the bar forming the rear section 22 of the frame 20 and are secured to said last named extensions by screws 26-26. The extensions 25-25 project beyond the rear extremities of the extensions 24-24 and carry anti-friction guide rollers 21- 21. As most clearly shown in Fig. 1, eachroller 21 is rotatably mounted on a shortystub shaft 28 having a reduced portion extending through an opening in the outer end of the corresponding extension 25 and riveted over at its extremity. The stub shaft 28 projects outwardly beyond the roller to form a guide member 29. The portion of the stub shaft 28 which forms the guide member 28 is of greater diameter than the bearing portion of said shaft,- on which the roller 21 is mounted and has its outer end face rounded off, as shown. The guide rollers 21-21 have rolling engagement As shown most clearly in with the under surface of the' top wall l3 of the table and the guide projections 29-23 cooperate with the side walls ll-H to guide the shelf A for straight line movement. In this connection,

5 it is pointed out that the inturned flanges ||4- H on the side walls of the table serve as emergency supporting means for the inner end of the shelf A. ,These flanges act as supports for the rollers 21-21 should the inner end of the shelf droop when the shelf is pushed fully into the table.

The outer ends of the side sections 23-23 of the frame 20 are inclined inwardly toward each other where they join the front section 2 I as indicated at 30-30. The sections 30-30 form friction wedge elements, which serve to hold the shelf seated in its innermost position, as hereinafter more fully pointed out.

The slats Ill-l0 of the shelf A are connected to the front and rear sections 2| and 22 of the frame 20. The slats 9-l 9 have their front ends turned downwardly at right angles and said downwardly bent portions are riveted to the inner side of the section 2|, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. The rear ends of said slats Ill-l0 extend through slots provided in the rear section 22 of the frame 20 and are thus supported by said section 22.

To prevent rattling of the slats I 9-l9, the rear end sections thereof are bound by a wire or rod 3| having hook extremities 32-32, which. are

anchored to the outermost slats at opposite sides of the shelf A. The wire 3| passes alternately over and under successive slat members, thereby holding the same against rattling, which might otherwise occur due to vibrations transmitted through the table from the operating mechanism mounted thereon.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the front and rear sections 2| and 22 of the frame 20 are located respectively in front and in back of the end wall I5 of the table, and the slats l9-l9 and the side sections 23-23 extend through the slots of said end wall, the slats extending through the horizontal slots |1-|1 and the side sections extending through the vertical slots I8-i8. These slots thus serve as guide means forthe shelf and direct it in its movements inwardly and out wardly of the table.

In assembling the shelf A with the table, the front and side sections 2| and 23-23 of the frame,

with the slats l9-l9 attached thereto, are applied to the table before the bar forming the rear section 22 is secured to said side sections 23-23. In said assembling operation, the rear portions of the side sections 23-23 of the frame 20 and the rearportions of the slats l9-I0 are first engaged through the openings in the end wall l5 of the table. The bar forming the rear section 22 of the frame 20 with the rollers 21-21 thereon is then applied by engaging the extremities of the slats Ill-l9 through the openings in said rear section 22 and securing the rearward extensions 25-25 to the extensions 24-24 of the side sections 23-23. The anti-rattling wire 3| is then applied to the slats 9-| 9.

As will be evident upon reference to Fig. 1, when the shelf is in its innermost position, that is, when the same is completely housed in the table, the inclined friction wedge sections 30-30 of the side sections 23-23 of the frame 20 will have wedging engagement with the inner vertical edge walls of'the guide slots |8-|8 of the end wall l5 of the table, thus frictionally retaining the shelf in its innermost position and preventing accidental outward movement of the same.

To extend the shelf A, the same i fo cib y pulled outwardly. During this outward movement, the shelf is guided by the side sections 23- 23 and the slats 9-l 9 working in the slots |0-| 3 and |1-|1, and by the rollers 21-21 and the guide members 23-20 engaging respectively the top wall and the side walls of the table. The guide members 20-29 by engagement with the side walls of the table effectively prevent sidesway of the shelf, and the rollers 21-21 by engagement with the top wall of the table hold the shelf against drooping or sagging with respect to the table top.

From the preceding description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that I have provided an extensible utility shelf which is rigidly supported in all positions of adjustment thereof, the slats l9-i9 and the side members 23-23 engaging through the slots of the end wall l5 of the table furnishing support throughout the width of the shelf, and in connection with the rollers on the extreme ends of the extensions 24- 25 and 24-25 of the side sections 23-23 and the rear section 2| of the frame providing ample support against downward tilting of the shelf, the extremities 24-25 and 24-25 acting as levers bracing said shelf in all positions thereof.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a table member having a hollow top; of an extensible utility shelf; and means for slidably guiding said shelf with respect to the table including supporting means engaging beneath said shelf, and rearwardly extending arms on said shelf having sliding bearing engagement with the under side of said table top inwardly of said supporting means.

2. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a table having a top wall; of an extensible utility shelf; means at the end of the table engaging'beneath said shelf for slidingly supporting the same; a rearward extension on said shelf; and guide means on said-extension engaging the top wall of the table inwardly of said supporting means for bracing the shelf.

3. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a table having atop wall and side walls at opposite sides thereof below said top wall; of an extensible utility shelf slidable beneath said top wall; and rearward extensions on said shelf having bearing engagement with said side walls and under side of said top wall for respectively guiding said shelf for straight li e movement and supporting it at any position 0- adjustment.

4. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a table having a top wall and side guide members; of an extensible utility shelf including side members extending rearwardly from said shelf, said shelf being slidable beneath said top wall; supporting guide means on said table engagin'gbeneath said shelf; roller-supporting stub shafts on said] rearwardly extending side members projecting laterally therefrom and guided between said side guide members; and rollers journaled on said shafts and having rolling engagement with the under side of said top wall;

5. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a supporting member having a top wall and spaced side walls; of an extensible shelf slidable beneath said top wall, said shelf including a frame having-longitudinally disposed side members, said side members having laterally inwardly directed gripping portions; and means on said supporting member adapted to be gripped between said inwardly directed portions to frictionally hold said shelf in its innermost position.

6. In a structure of the character described,

the combination with a supporting tablelike' tions at their outer ends adapted to be wedged against the inner side walls of said openings to frictionally hold said shelf in its innermost position. a

'7. In a structure of the character described,

the combination with a tablelike supporting member having a substantially horizontal abutment surface and a top wall and a vertical end wall, said end wall having openings therethrough at opposite sides thereof; of an extensible shelf slidable beneath said top wall, said shelf including a frame comprising a transverse front member, longitudinally extending side members, and a transverse rear member connecting said side members, said rear member being disposed on the inner side of said end wall of the supporting member, and means connected to said rear member adapted to engage said abutment surface of the table-like member to /support the shelf in its extended position.

4 8. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a tablelike supporting member having a vertical end wall, said end wall having openings therethrough at opposite sides thereof and a transversely arranged series 4 of openings between said first 'named openings; of an extensible shelf in the form of a grate member having a transverse front section, side sections extending rearwardly from saidfront section, and slat members between said side sections extending rearwardly from said front section, said side sections extending through said I first named openings and being slidably guided therein, and through said second named openings and being slidably guided therein.

9. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a tablelike supporting member having a substantially horizontal abutment surface and a vertical end wall; of an extensible shelf carried by said supporting memher, said shelf being in the form of a grate member comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, supporting elements, said end wall of the supporting -memberhaving 65.0penings therethrough slidably accommodating said slat members extending said elements, and means connected to the inner end of said shelf adapted to engage said abutment surface of the table-like member to support the shelf in its extended position.

10. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a tablelike supporting member having .a vertical end wall section, said end wall section being provided with a series of openings therethrough; of an extensible shelf of substantially rectangular shape including longitudinally extending, spaced slats and a frame member supporting said slats, said frame member having transverse front and rear sections and connecting side sections, said front and rear sections being disposed respectively on the outer and inner sides of said end wall, said slats extending between and being anchored to said front and rear sections of the frame member, said side sections of the frame member and said slats being slidingly guided in said openings of said end wall.

11. In a slidable shelf structure, the combination with a rectangular frame member comprising front and rear sections connected by side sections; of a plurality of laterally spaced, iongitudinally extending supporting slats fixed to said front section and extending through and being supported in openings provided in said rear section; and a binding wire anchored to the outermost slats at opposite sides of said shelf, said wire being in gripping engagement with all of said slats.

12. In a slidable shelf structure, the combination with a rectangular frame member comprising front and rear sections connected by side sections; of a plurality oflaterally spaced, longitudinally extending supporting slats fixed to said front" section and extending through and being supported inopenings provided-in said rear section; and a transversely arranged, binding wire engaging said slats adjacent their: rear ends, said wire extending alternately over and under adjacent slats and having its extremities in hooked, anchored engagement with the outermost slats at opposite sides of said shelf.

13. In a structure of the character described,

the combination with a table-like supporting member having a top wall and a vertical end wall, said end wall having a horizontally extending series of slots formed therein; of an extensible shelf slidable beneath thetop wall, said shelf comprising a transverse front member and a plurality of horizontally spaced apart slats connected to said front member and extending through and being supported in said slots, additional means for assisting in supporting said slats and for maintaining them in a substantially, horizontal plane at substantially all posi-' tions of horizontal adjustment of said shelf, and

cooperating means carried on one or more of said slats and on one of said walls for limiting said supporting member.

ANDREW H. GERHARDT.

the outward movement of said shelf relative to 

